Monday, June 30, 2008

Mi-Mi Moscow / Dada Arrigoni

If you have even half a teaspoon of interest in conceptual art jewellery, you'll already know the name Mi-Mi Moscow (Russians Mila Kalnitskaya and Micha Maslennikov). Whether you're visiting them for the first or fifteenth time, their site is always worth the visit.

Below, a ring from their much-lauded frog series:

Bonus link: while some frogs ride helicopters, others like to rest easy on a dome of shiny quartz. Pictured is one of Italian Dada Arrigoni's signature "Happy Frog" rings.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Diego Bisso / Brigit Daamen

Having recently julienned the tip of my opposable thumb right off, I now see why those particular digits are constantly hailed as what separates us from other hamfisted mammals. Loss of thumb use gets in the way of activities like buttoning, hitting the space bar on a keyboard, and the general holding of things. Like pens. Which is why this ring by Barcelona-based Italian designer Diego Bisso would've come in really handy, no pun intended.

Below are his "environmental" rings:

Bonus link: for more felt-tipped rings (though not of the ink-filled variety), check out the wool jewellery of Dutch designer Brigit Daamen.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Anton Cepka / Arno Pancke / Studio Damm

For those mornings when you look yourself over in the mirror and think, "Hmm, this outfit could use a little more... Pythagoras," Slovakia's Anton Cepka has squared away a great collection of geometric jewellery.

Above: some more rings that look borne of a sheet of graph paper, courtesy of Germany's Arno Pancke. I especially love the telescoping one on the right!

Bonus link: more triangles! This multi-finger double equilateral ring is by German jeweller Christian Nadrau of Studio Damm.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Antoine la Mendola / Zuazu / Deadly Ponies

Exactly six months away from Christmas, I happen to post rings that look like mistletoe and holly berries  I guess my subconscious likes to think ahead. Or maybe it wants me to eat more fruits and vegetables. Above, green rings by Switzerland's Antoine la Mendola and red ring by Spain's Zuazu.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Formglück / Uni-T Design (Takafumi Inuzuka)

In addition to jewellery, Germany's Formglück works in graphics and video  but I think their rings betray a hidden talent for furniture design, don't you? Pictured above, left, are pieces from their "konstrukt" series in smokey quartz, silk yarn, silver wire, lacquer and resin. Beside them are the Peter Stathis "Tube Top" lamp (top) and the "Salton" lamp from EQ3.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Moon Young Shin / Laia Calatrava

These rings aren't just decorative  they're supportive! UK-based Korean designer Moon Young Shin created these rings to "give the wearer a sense of hope and a feeling that someone is there to support him or her at all times." Be sure to check out the rest of the collection and view the RCA grad's other collections, too, including these "shut up" earplug rings and dyed acrylic brooch rings, below:

Bonus link: here's another ring that's meant to double as a brooch. By Spain's Laia Calatrava, from her "solitary ring" series.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Karina Jean / Nicotine / G de Joyas

Weekend quickie: take a peak. Left to right: sterling "summit" ring by Australia's Karina Jean, stainless steel ring by Spain's Nicotine (available in many colours) and gold "degradé" ring by G de Joyas, also of Spain.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Ingeborg Vandamme / Delphine-Charlotte Parmentier

In case you were wondering, it turns out that pyramids, ladders, miniature men and accordioned paper do go together. Figural rings in silver by Amsterdam's Ingeborg Vandamme, who also makes wonderful brooches.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Jasmine Watson / Uzuki Jewelry School

I'm starting to realize I have a weakness for radiating geometric patterns. (This might explain why I prefer slices of cheesecake over square-cut brownies.) New Zealand's Jasmine Watson, a costume designer who's worked on such projects as the recent Lord of the Rings triology, presents a pretty collection of pierced silhouttes based on Asian florals and arabesques.

Bonus link: another ring featuring pierced floral silhouettes. This one is from the student gallery of Tokyo's Uzuki Jewelry School.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Machteld Heylen / Wilhelm Tasso Mattar

The water is a source of inspiration for many artists but I've never seen one so concerned with water safety. Belgium's Machteld Heylen plays with the idea of security in her collection full of boats, life preservers and red crosses. Pictured above are the "save me from drowning" boat ring (€300) and "care" silver band (€130).

Bonus link: carved amber boat ring by Spain's Wilhelm Tasso Mattar. His site is full of interesting pieces, particularly in the "museum" section.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Yuwen Lu / Kitsch Katch

On the rare occasion that I think of finger puppets, I'll never think of finger puppets the same way again. This piece by London's Yuwen Lu is designed so that the nervous motion of drumming one's fingers is manifested in the movements of the two attached figures. Brilliant. (I'm thinking that red cloud must rain down crimson nailpolish, because I don't know how else to explain that manicure.) There's tons to explore on this artist's site, so get goin'!

Above: her one-size-fits-all ring, meant to be squeezed on to fit.

Bonus link: if you've never been one to drum your fingers, you can still piano and saxaphone them with this musical jumble ring from Kitsch Katch (£14). Talk about jazz hands!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Betony Vernon

Friday, June 13, 2008

Marian Sturkenboom / Elisabeth Leenknegt

If you really want to see these rings, you'll have to turn off the lights. Dutch artist Marian Sturkenboom colours silicone with photochromatic  that's glow-in-the-dark  dye, creating ethereal work reminiscent of jellyfish. Also pictured above are shots of one piece under different lights, to give you an idea of the effect.

Below, some more of her gorgeous rings:

Bonus link: we go from jellyfish to jellybeans with this ring from the "Sweet Memories" collection of Belgian jeweller Elisabeth Leenknegt. Visit her site for a lot more sweet pieces in glass and silver!

Monday, June 09, 2008

Barbara Walter / Michelle Fantaci

I know exactly how this bear feels  I, too was bowled over by the work of Syracuse, New York metalsmith Barbara Walter.

Above: her "spy decoder" ring. Below: her "egg samples" series and a piece from her "bearing bear-ring" pun collection. Yes, it's a bear bearing bearings. On a ring. Can you stand it? Check out her site for much, much more!

Bonus link: there are ten pairs of feet in this post but this shoe won't fit any of them. Gold horseshoe ring by Brooklyn's Michelle Fantaci.

Phoenix Rose (Guy Rozenstrich)

Friday, June 06, 2008

Rhyannan Hurst / Bea Reseigh

Organic pods of perforated silver and porcelain with muted glazing  I'm in heaven. Inspired by her surroundings (that would be the south-eastern coast of England), Rhyannan Hurst casts her pieces from materials collected on the beach. Like shells:

About Me

Hi! Visit the shop at thecarrotbox.com and get the full version of the blog at thecarrotbox.com/news! I stopped putting a full copy of the blog here because I think Google thought I was some copycat weirdo.